BC Workplace Mental Health and Addiction Scientific Committee
The British Columbia (BC) Workplace Mental Health and Addiction Scientific Committee was formed in October 2005, and represented a collaboration of researchers/scientists (both in BC and other provinces) with expertise in the area of workplace mental health and addiction. The purpose of the Committee was to coordinate and provide advice on the development, dissemination and exchange of workplace mental health and addiction research in BC, in partnership with the BC Business and Economic Roundtable on Mental Health, and other key stakeholders in BC, other provinces, and at the national and international level.
The Terms of Reference of the Committee were:
- To develop a comprehensive research framework (i.e. health promotion, prevention, early intervention, and disability management and return to work) for workplace mental health and addiction to guide research opportunities/efforts in BC, and in collaboration with other provinces, and at the national and international level.
- To identify workplace mental health and addiction research priorities within the public and private sectors in BC.
- To identify research collaboration and funding opportunities in relation to the comprehensive research framework and identified priorities.
- To advise on the implementation and evaluation of workplace mental health programs.
- To advise on the transfer of existing and emerging knowledge and the development of practical interventions, policies and tools based on research findings, to ensure adoption/use by relevant stakeholders.
- To liaise with public and private sector employers, BC Federation of Labor, insurers, EAP providers, relevant government ministries, and other key stakeholders.
- To liaise with the Global Economic Roundtable on Mental Health and Addiction Scientific Committee, and with other national and international research bodies.
Committee Members
Dr. Elliot Goldner (Co-Chair): Professor, Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University
Mr. Peter Coleridge (Co-Chair): Senior Advisor, BC Mental Health & Addiction Services, Provincial Health Services Authority, British Columbia; Senior Advisor, Mental Health Promotion, Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health; Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University
Dr. Joti Samra (Research Coordinator): Research Scientist, Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University.
Mr. Lloyd Craig and Ms. Heather Craig: Co-Chairs, BC Business and Economic Roundtable on Mental Health
Dr. Carolyn Dewa: Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto; Health Economist, Health Systems Research & Consulting Unit, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Dr. Merv Gilbert: Senior Consultant, Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction, Simon Fraser University; Principal, Gilbert, Acton, LePage
Dr. Rick Iverson: Professor of Human Resource Management, Faculty of Business Administration, Simon Fraser University
Ms. Catherine Kidd: Regional Director, Employee & Workplace Health & Safety, Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, Regional Health Authorities Occupational Health & Safety Directors Representative [rotates on annual basis]
Dr. Mieke Koehoorn: Assistant Professor, Department of Health Care and Epidemiology, University of British Columbia; Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Scholar
Dr. Raymond Lam: Professor and Head, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia
Dr. Scott Macdonald: Assistant Director, Centre for Addictions Research of BC; Associate Professor, School of Health Information Science, University of Victoria
Dr. Ed McCloskey: Director, Research Secretariat, WorkSafeBC [WCB-BC]
Dr. Shaila Misri: Medical Director, Provincial Reproductive Mental Health Program, BC Womens Hospital & Health Centre; Clinical Professor, Psychiatry/Obs/Gyn, University of British Columbia [alternate: Dr. Diana Carter, Psychiatrist, Reproductive Mental Health Program, BC Womens Hospital & Health Centre; Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia]
Dr. Larry Myette: Director, Strategic Workplace Health and Occupational Medicine Consultant, Healthcare Benefit Trust; Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia
Dr. Anthony Phillips: Director, UBC Institute of Mental Health; Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia
Dr. Elizabeth Smailes: Director of Mental Health and Organizational Development, Occupational Health and Safety Agency for Healthcare in BC; Assistant Professor, Department of Health Care and Epidemiology, University of British Columbia
Dr. Patrick Smith: Senior Advisor, BC Mental Health & Addiction Services, Provincial Health Services Authority, British Columbia; Senior Advisor, Addictions, Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health; Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia; Head, Addiction Psychiatry Division, University of British Columbia, Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University
Dr. JianLi Wang: Assistant Professor, Departments of Psychiatry and Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary
Dr. Annalee Yassi: Founding Executive Director, Occupational Health and Safety Agency for Healthcare in BC; Tier 1 Canada Research Chair; Director, Institute of Health Promotion Research; Professor, Department of Healthcare and Epidemiology; Acting Division Head, Division of Occupational Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia
Translating Knowledge into Action: Connections with Business
A specific mandate of the Committee was to build partnerships with the business community by:
- Obtaining business input into research priorities and questions
- Understanding the needs of businesses with respect to prevention of workplace mental health and addiction issues
- Identifying current and emerging issues in the business community that would benefit from research evaluation and input
- Exploring sources of relevant research data, in both the private and public sectors
- Developing an inventory of existing tools, policies, programs, and strategies for addressing workplace mental health & addiction issues in the workplace
- Building partnerships regarding the development and evaluation of workplace-centered programs and policies
- Collaborating in "real world" settings for implementation of tools, policies, programs, and strategies
- Facilitating connections between researchers and businesses to serve as research laboratories
- Working collaboratively to decrease the business costs associated with untreated mental health and addiction issues (e.g., lost productivity; absence from work
Funders:
The British Columbia Mental Health Society
Contact Info:
Please contact CARMHA for more information
Resources:
2006